scholarly journals Occurrence of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe buhrii on Dianthus chinensis in Inner Mongolia, China

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo Zhu ◽  
Xiao Duan ◽  
Haoran Guo ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Ke Quan ◽  
...  

Dianthus chinensis is widely cultivated for ornamental and medicinal use in China (Guo et al. 2017). The plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of urinary problems such as strangury and diuresis (Han et al. 2015). In June and July 2020, powdery mildew-like signs and symptoms were seen on leaves of D. chinensis cultivated on the campus of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot city, Inner Mongolia Province, China. White powder-like masses occurred in irregular shaped lesions on both leaf surfaces and covered up to 50% of leaf area. Some infected leaves were deformed on their edges and some leaf senescence occurred. More than 40 % of plants (n = 180) exhibited these signs and symptoms. Conidiophores (n = 50) of the suspect fungus were unbranched and measured 70 to 140 µm long × 6 to 10 µm wide and had foot cells that were 25 to 48 µm long. Conidia (n = 50) were produced singly, elliptical to cylindrical shaped, 30 to 45 µm long × 12 to 19 µm wide, with length/width ratio of 2.0 to 3.2, and lacked fibrosin bodies. No chasmothecia were found. Based on these morphological characteristics, the fungus was tentatively identified as an Erysiphe sp. (Braun and Cook 2012). Fungal structures were isolated from diseased leaves and genomic DNA of the pathogen extracted utilizing the method described by Zhu et al. (2019). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified by PCR employing the primers PMITS1/PMITS2 (Cunnington et al. 2003) and the amplicon sequenced by Invitrogen (Shanghai, China). The sequence for the powdery mildew fungus (deposited into GenBank under Accession No. MW144997) showed 100 % identity (558/558 bp) with E. buhrii (Accession No. LC009898) that was reported on Dianthus sp. in Japan (Takamatsu et al. 2015). Pathogenicity tests were done by collecting fungal conidia from infected D. chinensis leaves and brushing them onto leaves of four healthy plants. Four uninoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated and uninoculated plants were placed in separate growth chambers maintained at 19 ℃, 65 % humidity, with a 16 h/8 h light/dark period. Nine-days post-inoculation, powdery mildew disease signs appeared on inoculated plants, whereas control plants remained asymptomatic. The same results were obtained for two repeated pathogenicity experiments. The powdery mildew fungus was identified and confirmed as E. buhrii based on morphological and molecular analysis. An Oidium sp. causing powdery mildew on D. chinensis previously was reported in Xinjiang Province, China (Zheng and Yu 1987). This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. buhrii on D. chinensis in China (Farr and Rossman 2020). The sudden occurrence of this destructive powdery mildew disease on D. chinensis may adversely affect the health, ornamental value and medicinal uses of the plant in China. Identifying the cause of the disease will support efforts for its future control and management.

Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 1072-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Park ◽  
S. E. Cho ◽  
J. H. Park ◽  
S. K. Lee ◽  
H. D. Shin

Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser., known as mophead hydrangea, is native to Japan and is used as a potted ornamental or is planted for landscaping in gardens worldwide. In May 2011, powdery mildew occurred on potted mophead hydrangea cv. Emerald plants in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses in Icheon, Korea. Heavily infected plantings were unmarketable, mainly due to purplish red discoloration and crinkling of leaves. Such powdery mildew symptoms on mophead hydrangea in gardens had been often found in Korea since 2001, and the collections (n = 10) were deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS). In all cases, there was no trace of chasmothecia formation. Mycelium was effuse on both sides of leaves, young stems, and flower petals. Appressoria were well developed, lobed, and solitary or in opposite pairs. Conidiophores were cylindrical, 70 to 145 × 7.5 to 10 μm, and composed of three to four cells. Foot-cells of conidiophores were straight to sub-straight, cylindric, short, and mostly less than 30 μm long. Conidia produced singly were ellipsoid to oval, 32 to 50 × 14 to 22 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.7 to 2.8, lacked fibrosin bodies, and showed angular/rectangular wrinkling of outer walls. Germ tubes were produced on the perihilar position of conidia. Primary conidia were apically conical, basally rounded to subtruncate, 32 to 42 × 14 to 18 μm, and thus generally smaller than the secondary conidia. The morphological characteristics are consistent with previous descriptions of Oidium hortensiae Jørst. (3,4). To confirm the identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA from KUS-F25514 was amplified with primers ITS5 and P3 and directly sequenced. The resulting sequence of 694 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JQ669944). There was no ITS sequence data known from powdery mildews on Hydrangea. Therefore, this is the first sequence of O. hortensiae submitted to GenBank. Nevertheless, a GenBank BLAST search of this sequence showed >99% similarity with those of Oidium spp. recorded on crassulacean hosts (e.g. GenBank Accession Nos. EU185641 ex Sedum, EU185636 ex Echeveria, and EU185639 ex Dudleya) (2), suggesting their close phylogenetic relationship. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of five healthy potted mophead hydrangea cv. Emerald plants. Five noninoculated plants of the same cultivar served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 22 ± 2°C. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Occurrence of powdery mildew disease on mophead hydrangea is circumglobal (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew disease caused by O. hortensiae on mophead hydrangea in Korea. Powdery mildew infections in Korea pose a serious threat to the continued production of quality potted mophead hydrangea in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved March 19, 2012, from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ . (2) B. Henricot. Plant Pathol. 57:779, 2008. (3) A. Schmidt and M. Scholler. Mycotaxon 115:287, 2011. (4) S. Tanda. J. Agric. Sci. Tokyo Univ. Agric. 43:253, 1999.


Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo Zhu ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Xiao Duan ◽  
YongFang Li

Zinnia elegans, common zinnia, is an annual plant with highly ornamental values. It is widely planted in many nurseries, city parks, universities and home gardens in China. From August to October 2020, powdery mildew-like signs and symptoms were observed on leaves of Z. elegans growing on the campus of Henan Normal University, Henan Province, China. White powdery colonies in circular- or irregularly shaped-lesions were abundant on both surfaces of leaves and covered up to 95 % of the leaf area. Any infected leaves were chlorotic, deformed or senescence. More than 70 % of the monitored Z. elegans plants showed these signs and symptoms. Conidiophores (n = 20) were 100 to 200 × 9 to 13 μm and composed of foot cells, followed by straight cells and conidia. Mycelial appressoria were single and nipple-shaped. The oval-shaped conidia (n = 30) were 22 to 36 × 12 to 18 μm, with a length/width ratio of 1.4 to 2.7, and produced germ tubes from the polar ends of the spore. No chasmothecia were found. Based on these morphological characteristics, the pathogen was initially identified morphologically as Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Braun and Cook 2012). Structures of the pathogen were scraped from infected leaves and total genomic DNA was isolated using the method previously described by Zhu et al. (2019). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified by PCR using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and the amplicon was sequenced by Invitrogen (Shanghai, China). The sequence for the fungus was deposited into GenBank under Accession No. MW029904 and was 99.83 % identical (595/596 bp) to G. cichoracearum on Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (HM769725)(Mørk et al. 2011). To perform pathogenicity analysis, leaf surfaces of five healthy plants were fixed in a settling tower and then inoculated by blowing fungal conidia from mildew-infested leaves using pressurized air. Five non-inoculated plants served as a control. The inoculated and non-inoculated plants were separately maintained in two growth chambers (humidity, 60 %; light/dark, 16 h/8 h; temperature, 18 ℃). Eleven- to twelve-days post-inoculation, powdery mildew signs were conspicuous on inoculated plants, while control plants remained healthy. Similar results were obtained by conducting two repeated pathogenicity assays. Thus, based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the pathogen was identified and confirmed as G. cichoracearum. This pathogen has been reported on Z. elegans in India, Israel, Jordan, Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Turkey (Farr and Rossman 2020). To our best knowledge, this is the first report of G. cichoracearum on Z. elegans in China. The sudden outbreak of powdery mildew caused by G. cichoracearum on Z. elegans may adversely impact the plant health and ornamental value in China. Therefore, the confirmation of G. cichoracearum infecting Z. elegans expands the understanding of this pathogen and provides the fundamental knowledge for future powdery mildew control.


Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo Zhu ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Wenqi Shi ◽  
YongFang Li

Poa pratensis, known as bluegrass, is a perennial grass and one of the best varieties with highly valued pasture and turf grass uses. It is widely grown on golf courses and used for lawns in squares and parks (Luo et al. 2020). During April and May 2020, powdery mildew-like signs and symptoms were observed on leaves of P. pratensis in Muye Park, Xinxiang city (35.3°N; 113.9°E), Henan Province, China. White or grayish powdery masses in spots- or coalesced lesions were abundant on the adaxial surfaces of leaves and covered up to 90 % of the leaf area. Some of the mildew-infested leaves appeared chlorotic or began senescence. Mildew-infested leaves were collected to microscopically observe the morphological characteristics of this pathogen. Conidiophores were composed of foot cells, followed by one or two cells, and conidia. The ellipsoid- shaped conidia (n = 50) were 25 - 36 × 10 - 15 μm (length × width), on average 30 × 13 μm, with a length/width ratio of 2.3. Foot-cells (n = 15) were 30 - 44 μm long and 7 - 15 μm wide. On leaf surfaces, germinated conidia produced a short primary germ tube and then a long secondary germ tube that finally differentiated into a hooked appressorium. Chasmothecia were not found. Based on these morphological characteristics, the pathogen was initially identified as B. graminis f. sp. poae, the known forma specialis (f. sp.) of B. graminis on P. pratensis (Braun and Cook 2012; Troch et al. 2014). Mycelia of the pathogen were scraped from infected leaves and total genomic DNA was isolated using the method described previously (Zhu et al. 2019). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified applying primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990). The amplicon was cloned and sequenced by Invitrogen (Shanghai, China). The obtained sequence for the pathogen was deposited into GenBank under Accession No. MT892956 and was 100 % identical (549/549 bp) to B. graminis on P. pratensis (AB273530) (Inuma et al. 2007). In addition, the phylogenetic analysis clearly showed that the identified fungus and B. graminis f. sp. poae were clustered in the same branch. To perform pathogenicity analysis, leaf surfaces of eight healthy plants were inoculated by dusting fungal conidia from diseased leaves. Eight non-inoculated plants served as a control. The non-inoculated and inoculated plants were separately maintained in two growth chambers (humidity, 60 %; light/dark, 16 h/8 h; temperature, 18 ℃). Twelve to fourteen days after inoculation, B. graminis signs were visible on inoculated leaves, while control plants remained healthy. The pathogenicity assays were repeated twice and showed same results. Therefore, based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the pathogen was identified and confirmed as B. graminis f. sp. poae. This pathogen has been reported on P. pratensis in Switzerland and Japan (Inuma et al. 2007). This is, to our best knowledge, the first disease note reporting B. graminis on P. pratensis in China. Because the hybridization of B. graminis formae speciales (ff. spp.). allow the pathogens to adapt to new hosts, P. pratensis may serve as a primary inoculum reservoir of B. graminis to threaten other species, including cereal crops (Klingeman et al. 2018; Menardo et al. 2016). In addition, powdery mildew may negatively affect the yield and quality of grasses. Our report expands the knowledge of B. graminis f. sp. poae and provides the fundamental information for future powdery mildew control.


Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-426
Author(s):  
K. S. Han ◽  
S. E. Cho ◽  
J. H. Park ◽  
H. D. Shin

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm.), belonging to the family Apiaceae, is an aromatic annual herb that is native to the Caucasus. It is widely used as a flavoring agent for culinary purposes. This herb was recently introduced in Korea. In April 2013, plants showing typical symptoms of powdery mildew disease were observed in a polyethylene film-covered greenhouse in Seoul, Korea. White mycelium bearing conidia formed irregular patches on leaves and stems. Mycelial growth was amphigenous. Severe infections caused leaf withering and premature senescence. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Hyphae were septate, branched, with moderately lobed appressoria. Conidiophores presented 3 to 4 cells and measured 85 to 148 × 7 to 9 μm. Foot-cells of conidiophores were 37 to 50 μm long. Conidia were produced singly, oblong-elliptical to oblong, measured 30 to 50 × 13 to 18 μm with a length/width ratio of 2.0 to 3.3, lacked conspicuous fibrosin bodies, and with angular/rectangular wrinkling of the outer walls. Germ tubes were produced in the subterminal position of conidia. Chasmothecia were not found. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Pseudoidium anamorph of the genus Erysiphe. The specific measurements and morphological characteristics were consistent with those of E. heraclei DC. (1). To confirm identity of the causal fungus, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of KUS-F27279 was amplified with primers ITS5 and P3 (4) and sequenced directly. The resulting 561-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF111807). A GenBank BLAST search of this sequence showed >99% similarity with those of many E. heraclei isolates, e.g., Pimpinella affinis (AB104513), Anethum graveolens (JN603995), and Daucus carota (EU371725). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto leaves of five healthy potted chervil plants. Five non-inoculated plants served as a control treatment. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 22 ± 2°C. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was identical morphologically to that originally observed on diseased plants. Chervil powdery mildews caused by E. heraclei have been reported in Europe (Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Switzerland, and the former Soviet Union) and the United States (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. heraclei on chervil in Asia as well as in Korea. The plant is cultivated in commercial farms for its edible leaves in Korea. Occurrence of powdery mildew is a threat to quality and marketability of this herb, especially those grown in organic farming where chemical control options are limited. References: (1) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No. 11, CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication. ARS, USDA. Retrieved July 29, 2013. (3) S. T. Koike and G. S. Saenz. Plant Dis. 88:1163, 2004. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.


Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 1159-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Cho ◽  
J. H. Park ◽  
S. H. Hong ◽  
B. S. Kim ◽  
H. D. Shin

Verbena brasiliensis Vell., commonly known as Brazilian verbena, is native to South America and has been introduced into North America, coastal Europe, southern Africa, and Australasia. Though partly cultivated for garden use, it is invasive in riverine areas and also on roadsides, forest margins, pastures, and waste areas (4). In Korea, this plant was first reported in 1998 in Jeju Island and has become widely naturalized by replacing indigenous plants and disrupting native ecosystems in most of southern part of Korea (3). Since 2009, powdery mildew on Brazilian verbena has been consistently found in several locations of Busan City, Korea. Symptoms appeared as circular to irregular white patches, which subsequently showed abundant hyphal growth on both sides of the leaves and on stems. High disease severity caused poor growth of the plants, resulting in premature senescence and reduced flowering. Specimens (n = 5) were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Appressoria on the mycelium were nipple-shaped or nearly absent. Conidiophores were 140 to 190 × 11 to 12.5 μm and produced 2 to 7 immature conidia in chains with a crenate outline. Foot-cells in conidiophores were straight, cylindric, relatively short, 50 to 65 μm long, and constricted at the very base of branching point from the hypha. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid to ovate, measured 28 to 38 × 18.5 to 22 μm (length/width ratio of 1.2 to 1.8), and contained distinct fibrosin bodies. Germ tubes were produced from the lateral position of conidia. No chasmothecia were observed. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Euoidium anamorph of the genus Podosphaera. The morphological characteristics and measurements were consistent with those of P. xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff (1). To confirm the identity, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of the isolate KUS-F27220 was amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4, and sequenced. The resulting 477-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ472787). A GenBank BLAST search of this sequence revealed 100% identity with Podosphaera sp. on V. bonariensis and V.× hybrida from Japan (AB462804 and AB040347). The Podosphaera sp. isolates listed above are now placed in P. xanthii (1). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto leaves of three healthy, potted 2-month-old Brazilian verbena plants. Three non-inoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated leaves was identical morphologically to that originally observed on diseased plants. Powdery mildew of Verbena spp. associated with Podosphaera sp. (including Sphaerotheca sp.) has been globally reported, but not on V. brasiliensis (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew disease caused by P. xanthii on V. brasiliensis globally. Our field observations suggest that the powdery mildew could limit expansion of V. brasiliensis in Korea. References: (1) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No.11. CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved February 18, 2014. (3) C. G. Song and Y. H. Yang. The Naturalized Plants in Jeju Island. Nam-Jeju County, Jeju, Korea, 2005. (4) P. F. Yao. Kew Bull. 45:101, 1990.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251444
Author(s):  
Márk Z. Németh ◽  
Yuusaku Mizuno ◽  
Hiroki Kobayashi ◽  
Diána Seress ◽  
Naruki Shishido ◽  
...  

A total of 26 Ampelomyces strains were isolated from mycelia of six different powdery mildew species that naturally infected their host plants in Japan. These were characterized based on morphological characteristics and sequences of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS) regions and actin gene (ACT) fragments. Collected strains represented six different genotypes and were accommodated in three different clades of the genus Ampelomyces. Morphology of the strains agreed with that of other Ampelomyces strains, but none of the examined characters were associated with any groups identified in the genetic analysis. Five powdery mildew species were inoculated with eight selected Ampelomyces strains to study their mycoparasitic activity. In the inoculation experiments, all Ampelomyces strains successfully infected all tested powdery mildew species, and showed no significant differences in their mycoparasitic activity as determined by the number of Ampelomyces pycnidia developed in powdery mildew colonies. The mycoparasitic interaction between the eight selected Ampelomyces strains and the tomato powdery mildew fungus (Pseudoidium neolycopersici strain KTP-03) was studied experimentally in the laboratory using digital microscopic technologies. It was documented that the spores of the mycoparasites germinated on tomato leaves and their hyphae penetrated the hyphae of Ps. neolycopersici. Ampelomyces hyphae continued their growth internally, which initiated the atrophy of the powdery mildew conidiophores 5 days post inoculation (dpi); caused atrophy 6 dpi; and complete collapse of the parasitized conidiphores 7 dpi. Ampelomyces strains produced new intracellular pycnidia in Ps. neolycopersici conidiophores ca. 8–10 dpi, when Ps. neolycopersici hyphae were successfully destroyed by the mycoparasitic strain. Mature pycnidia released spores ca. 10–14 dpi, which became the sources of subsequent infections of the intact powdery mildew hyphae. Mature pycnidia contained each ca. 200 to 1,500 spores depending on the mycohost species and Ampelomyces strain. This is the first detailed analysis of Ampelomyces strains isolated in Japan, and the first timing and quantification of mycoparasitism of Ps. neolycopersici on tomato by phylogenetically diverse Ampelomyces strains using digital microscopic technologies. The developed model system is useful for future biocontrol and ecological studies on Ampelomyces mycoparasites.


Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
pp. 1376-1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Park ◽  
S. E. Cho ◽  
M. Piątek ◽  
H. D. Shin

Macleaya microcarpa (Maxim.) Fedde, also known as smallfruit plume poppy, is a perennial herb belonging to the family Papaveraceae. The plant, together with the better-known species M. cordata (Willd.) R. Br., is native to central China and is now planted worldwide for medicinal purposes. In October 2008 and August 2009, dozens of smallfruit plume poppy planted in the Kraków Botanical Garden, Poland, were found to be severely infected with a powdery mildew. White colonies with abundant sporulation developed on both sides of leaves and young stems, forming circular to irregular patches. Infections caused leaf yellowing and premature defoliation. The damage has been observed every year since 2009. Representative voucher specimens were deposited in the fungal herbarium of the W. Szafer Institute of Botany of the Polish Academy of Sciences (KRAM) and the Korea University herbarium (KUS). Appressoria on the mycelia were lobed, often in pairs. Conidiophores composed of three to four cells arose from the upper part of creeping hyphae, 65 to 120 × 7 to 10 μm, attenuated toward the base, sub-straight or slightly flexuous in foot-cells, and produced conidia singly. Conidia were hyaline, oblong-elliptical to doliiform, 25 to 38 × 12 to 18 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.8 to 2.6; lacked fibrosin bodies; and produced germ tubes on the subterminal position with club-shaped or lobed appressoria. The conidial surface was wrinkled to irregularly reticulate. No chasmothecia were found. The structures described above match well with the anamorph of Erysiphe macleayae R.Y. Zheng & G.Q. Chen (3). To confirm the identity of the causal fungus, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA from KUS-F24459 was amplified using primers ITS5 and P3 (4) and directly sequenced. The resulting sequence of 553 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JQ681217). A GenBank BLAST search using the present data revealed >99% sequence similarity of the isolate with E. macleayae on M. cordata from Japan (AB016048). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of three healthy potted plants. Three noninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 25°C. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 7 days, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants. The powdery mildew infections of M. cordata associated with E. macleayae have been recorded in China and Japan (2), and more recently in Germany (1,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. macleayae on M. microcarpa globally as well as in Poland. This mildew species was described in China and is endemic to Asia, where chasmothecia of the fungus were found. Only recently have powdery mildews been found on M. cordata in Germany (1,3) and now on M. microcarpa in Poland, indicating the fungus is spreading in Europe. References: (1) N. Ale-Agha et al. Schlechtendalia 17:39, 2008. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , February 7, 2012. (3) A. Schmidt and M. Scholler. Mycotaxon 115:287, 2011. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.


Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mo Zhu ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Xiao Duan ◽  
Wenqi Shi ◽  
YongFang Li

Bromus catharticus, rescuegrass, is a brome grass that has been cultivated for herbage production, and been widely naturalized in many provinces of China, including Henan province. During April and May 2020, powdery mildew was found on leaves of Br. catharticus on the campus of Henan Normal University, Xinxiang city (35.3°N; 113.9°E), Henan Province, China. Abundant white or grayish irregular or coalesced circular powdery colonies were scattered on the adaxial surface of leaves and 70% of the leaf areas were affected. Some of the infected leaves either were chlorotic or senescent. About 60% of the observed plants showed powdery mildew symptoms. Conidiophores (n = 25) were 32 to 45 μm × 7 to 15 μm and composed of foot cells and conidia (mostly 6 conidia) in chains. Conidia (n = 50) were 25 to 35 μm × 10 to 15 μm, on average 30 × 13 μm, with a length/width ratio of 2.3. Chasmothecia were not found. Based on these morphologic characteristics, the pathogen was initially identified as Blumeria graminis f. sp. bromi (Braun and Cook 2012; Troch et al. 2014). B. graminis mycelia and conidia were collected, and total genomic DNA was extracted (Zhu et al. 2019). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified with primer pairs ITS1/ITS4. The amplicon was cloned and sequenced. The sequence (574 bp) was deposited into GenBank under Accession No. MT892940. BLASTn analysis revealed that MT892940 was 100% identical to B. graminis f. sp. bromi on Br. catharticus (AB000935, 550 of 550 nucleotides) (Takamatsu et al. 1998). Phylogenetic analysis of MT892940 and ITS of other B. graminis ff. spp. clearly indicated least two phylogenetically distinct clades of B. graminis f. sp. bromi and that MT892940 clustered with the Takamatsu vouchers. Leaf surfaces of five healthy plants were fixed at the base of a settling tower and then inoculated by blowing conidia from diseased leaves using pressurized air. Five non-inoculated plants served as controls. The inoculated and non-inoculated plants were maintained separately in two growth chambers (humidity, 60%; light/dark, 16 h/8 h; temperature, 18℃). Thirteen- to fifteen-days after inoculation, B. graminis signs and symptoms were visible on inoculated leaves, whereas control plants remained asymptomatic. The pathogenicity assays were repeated twice with the same results. The observed signs and symptoms were morphologically identical to those of the originally infected leaves. Accordingly, the causal organism of the powdery mildew was confirmed as B. graminis f. sp. bromi by morphological characteristics and ITS sequence data. B. graminis has been reported on Br. catharticus in the United States (Klingeman et al. 2018), Japan (Inuma et al. 2007) and Argentina (Delhey et al. 2003). To our best knowledge, this is the first report of B. graminis on Br. catharticus in China. Since hybridization of B. graminis ff. spp. is a mechanism of adaptation to new hosts, Br. catharticus may serve as a primary inoculum reservoir of B. graminis to infect other species (Menardo et al. 2016). This report provides fundamental information for the powdery mildew that can be used to develop control management of the disease in Br. catharticus herbage production.


Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Garibaldi ◽  
D. Bertetti ◽  
A. Poli ◽  
M. L. Gullino

Creeping (June) bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Campunalaceae family. It has showy flowers, which is very much appreciated for gardens and landscaping. During the summer of 2011, 6- to 9-month-old plants grown in a garden near Biella (northern Italy) showed signs and symptoms of an unknown powdery mildew. The adaxial leaf surfaces were covered with white mycelia and conidia, while the abaxial surfaces were less infected. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and wilted. Mycelia were also observed on stems, petioles, and flower calyxes of inflorescences. Seventy percent of plants were diseased. Conidia were hyaline, elliptical to ovoid (sometimes doliform), borne in short chains (up to three conidia per chain), and measured 27 to 42 (34) × 16 to 24 (19) μm. Conidiophores were erect with a cylindrical foot cell measuring 64 to 105 (80) × 11 to 12 (11) μm and followed by two shorter cells measuring 17 to 24 (20) × 11 to 15 (13) μm. Fibrosin bodies were absent. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS1F/ITS4 and sequenced (3) (GenBank Accession No. JN639855). The 405-bp amplicon had 98% homology with the sequence of Golovinomyces orontii GQ183948. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy C. rapunculoides plants. Three plants were inoculated while the same number of noninoculated plants served as a control. Plants were maintained outside at temperatures from 10 to 26°C. Fifteen days after inoculation, symptoms and signs of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. The conidial morphology of the powdery mildew fungus that developed on inoculated plants was identical to the conidial morphology observed in the original fungus. Noninoculated plants remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. G. orontiii has been reported on C. rapunculoides in several eastern European countries as well as in Switzerland and Germany (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease in Italy. The economic importance of this disease is currently limited in Italy because of limited planting of this host. References: (1) A. Bolay. Cryptogam. Helv. 20:1, 2005. (2) U. Braun. The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany, 1995. (3) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.


Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (10) ◽  
pp. 1317-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Soylu ◽  
S. E. Cho ◽  
H. D. Shin

Powdery mildews are one of the most common diseases of plants growing in many nurseries, city parks, and home gardens in Turkey. Common zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) is widely cultivated in Turkey for ornamental purposes. In September 2010, zinnia plants grown in Hatay, Turkey were found to be heavily infected with a powdery mildew. Pathogen mycelia and sporulation were observed as circular to irregular, white patches on both sides of the leaves and on stems and flower petals. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and died. Hyphae were straight to wavy and 4 to 7 μm wide. Conidiophores arose from the upper part of the hyphae, measured 120 to 190 × 10 to 13 μm, were simple, and produced two to six immature conidia in chains with a sinuate edge, followed by two to three straight cells. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid to barrel-shaped, measured 25 to 42 × 14 to 22 μm (length/width ratio = 1.3 to 2.5), lacked distinct fibrosin bodies, and produced germ tubes on the perihilar position, with reticulate wrinkling of the outer walls. No chasmothecia were observed. The structures described above were typical of the Oidium subgenus Reticuloidium, anamorph of the genus Golovinomyces, and the fungus measurements were compatible with those of G. cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Heluta described previously (1,3). To confirm the tentative identification based on morphological characteristics, molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences from a representative material (MKU-ZK311077, duplicate KUS-F25655) was conducted. The complete ITS regions of rDNA were amplified using primers ITS5 and P3 as described by S. Takamatsu (4) and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 508 bp from MKU-ZK311077 was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JN051414). A GenBank BLAST search using the current data revealed an exact match for several sequences of G. cichoracearum, including Australian and Korean powdery mildews on zinnia plants, with a 100% sequence similarity. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of three healthy, potted zinnia plants. Three noninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 25°C. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 10 days, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants. The powdery mildew infections of Z. elegans associated with G. cichoracearum are nearly circumglobal, including Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania, and Western Asian localities like India, Nepal, Jordan, and Israel (1,2). The current work confirmed the occurrence of G. cichoracearum infecting Z. elegans in Turkey using detailed morphological and molecular analysis. References: (1) U. Braun. Beih. Nova Hedw. 89:1, 1987. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , May 24, 2011. (3) M. J. Park et al. Plant Pathol. J. 27:85, 2011. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.


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